Old Gasman's 2022 Blog

[deluxestogie]

It runs in the family.

From my 2021 crop.

I have the pointless habit of lovingly returning an inverted leaf to its upright position. But like teenagers, they just go back to their preferred state as soon as you turn your back.

Tobacco is a sub-tropical plant, and loves lots of water—so long as their roots are in soil with adequate drainage.

Bob

 

[Old Gasman]

It's now exactly 1 month since I put my plants outside and they're coming along well I think,

 

[santisimo]

Wow stunning plants you have

 

[Old Gasman]

Oh no! One of my Basma plants appears to have some type of disease. Let me show you some pictures,



I've removed all the dodgy looking leaves and given the plant a good spraying with a disease control liquid.
Any idea what it could be and what other measures do i need to take?
Thanks chaps

 

[Knucklehead]

Was the plant otherwise healthy or was it stunted compared to others?
Limited to upper or lower leaves, or all up and down the plant?

 

[Old Gasman]

It was the same height as the others but the leaves started to curl slightly about a week ago. My dear wife is a bit of a gardener and she thought it was Blackfly so I gave it a spraying to no effect. Thankfully it doesn't seem to have affected the other plants but I'll keep a close eye on them.

 

[Knucklehead]

Was anyone spraying anything nearby not labeled for tobacco?

Pythium Root Rot | Burley Tobacco Extension

Pythium root rot is caused by a fungus-like organism often referred to as a water mold. Pythium infections result in stunting and yellowing of tobacco seedlings. Often infected plants are isolated in well-defined areas in float beds. (Photo: Kenneth Seebold, UK) If left unchecked, Pythium root...

burleytobaccoextension.ca.uky.edu

 

[Old Gasman]

No, nothing was sprayed.

 

[Knucklehead]

You could look through some of these for comparison. Look at the blue mold images when you get there. I can't really tell.

Area Images - IPM Images

The Source for Agriculture and Pest Management Pictures

www.ipmimages.org

 

[Knucklehead]

Or this one

Tobacco - List of Tobacco Pests and Diseases

Tobacco - List of Tobacco Pests and Diseases

ephytia.inra.fr

 

[Old Gasman]

Thank you I'll have a look see.

 

[Old Gasman]

I have a question that I'm sure you knowledgeable chaps can answer. My Basma and Virginia plants are now developing seed pods and it's my understanding that once they flower I remove them, wait three weeks then harvest the leaves.
My YTB plants haven't yet got any seed pods, however a couple of the lower leaves are starting to turn a pale yellow. Should I ignore them until the flower pods develop or are they worth picking and curing?
Thanks chaps.

 

[deluxestogie]

In your mind, disconnect the leaf maturity and harvest timing from the blossoming. Those rules of thumb for timing are for big growers. Read the recent posts on the subject here, starting with this post:

Tobaccofieldsforever 2022 Grow Log

Thanks!

fairtradetobacco.com

Also, traditionally, Orientals (i.e. your Basma) are not topped, in order to keep the nicotine levels low and the floral qualities maximized.

Bob

 

[Old Gasman]

Thank you Bob, much appreciated. My Basma are growing in pots in front of the kitchen window so the blossoms will be a nice bonus.

 

[Old Gasman]

My plants are coming along in leaps and bounds and here's a couple more photos. The ones behind the garage are starting to resemble a jungle, that's the trouble with squashing them into a small space I guess. As for the Basma, I'm looking forward to them flowering, I'll be able to see them as I stand at the sink doing the washing up.

 

[Old Gasman]

Some more photos for you chaps, my plants are coming along swimmingly I think. For a new tobacco grower there's lots so learn and what I've learned so far is this, I should have used just one row of buckets behind my garage instead of two and I should have fixed some eye bolts into the wall to hold the the plants up, it's like a jungle and it's hard to pick individual leaves without damaging others. But not withstanding that mistake I'm happy with my grow so far. I've already picked about a dozen leaves and they seem to be curing nicely hanging in the garage.

 

[Old Gasman]

Now then chaps I need a word of advice. My YTB and Virginia leaves are starting to mature and I've already got some hanging in my garage but I'm not certain sure what to do with my Basma.
The bottom leaves are turning pale yellow/white. I've read that Orientals are best sun cured. So, should i string the leaves and hang them in the garage to wilt for a couple of days then put them outside or hang them straight out in the sun.
Thanks chaps.

 

[deluxestogie]

If you wait until the upper leaf of the Basma is looking mature (rugose and thick), then you can cut the whole stalk, and hang it directly in full sun. The stalk moisture minimizes the risk of the leaf flash-drying green. Rumor has it that you've got some heat going there in the UK.

Bob

 

[Old Gasman]

Thanks Bob at the moment the top leaves look much darker than the bottom ones, almost a grey green if that makes any sense and they appear very wrinkled. It's also about 3 weeks since they flowered. Yes we're either currently enjoying some long overdue nice weather or if you listen to the news (which I try not to do) all about to die horribly of sun stroke.

 

[Old Gasman]

A picture is worth a thousand words,

Here's the bottom leaves and the top. In real life the top leaves do indeed feel a wee bit thicker. I'm fearful of leaving them too late if that's possible but on the other hand when we get sunny weather here we've no sooner got ourselves into a panic that it starts raining and forgets how to stop.